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A J. MACDUUGALL- ELECIROLYTIC APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. I6.1919.

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ELECTROLYTIC APPARATUS.

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ARCHIBALD J. MACDOUGALL, OF TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, ASSIGNOE TO NATIOhiAL ELECTED PRODUCTS, LIMITED,- OE

TORONTO, CANADA.

Specification of Letters ratent.

Application filed April 16, 1919. Serial No. 290,568.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ARCHIBALD J. Mac- DoUcALL, of the cit of Toronto, in the county of York, rovince ,of Ontario, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrolytic Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates particularly to apparatus for electrolyzing li uids for the production of gases and, speci cally, for use in the decomposition of water into its gaseous elements. In such apparatus it is common to use a series of bi-polar electrodes separated by diaphragms, the hydrogen coming off at similar faces of each. late and the oxygen at the other faces, an my object is to devise a bi-polar electrode which will be effective, though cheap, which when in use in the electrolytic tank is easily removed or replaced as a unit, which makes the discovery of any damaged or ineffective unit a very simple matter, and which enables the gases to be recovered in an exceptionally pure condition.

I attain my objects by means of the constructions hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which- Figure l is a vertical section of part of an. electrolytic tank with a few of my im- Fig. 2 a cross section of the same;

Fig. 3 a face View of one of my improved electrodes broken away to enable the parts to be shown on a larger scale;

ig. at a plan view, partly in section and partly broken away, of rnyimproved electrode; and

Fig. 5 a vertical section, partly broken away.

In the drawings like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and :2, l is a tank, which may be of any approved construction, adapted to contain the caustic or other solution to be electrolyzed. 2 are the electrodes, which are fitted crosswise of the tank a: shown and may be of any desired number. To the end electrodes are secured terminals 3 for connection with a source of electric energy. As only one end only the opposite side of the tank, through w ich a second gas generated at the surface of the electrodes may be led away. 7

In the electrolysis of a caustic solution for the production of oxygen and hydrogen, oxygen will be led 0d through one. of the conduits and the hydrogen through the other conduit. Each electrode at its top is provided with a ring 12 whereby it may be lifted out whenever necessary.

Each electrode is formed of a conductive material such as carbon or metal and is constructed particularly as shown in 3, a and 5 ofthe drawings. Preferably each electrode is formed of an integral casting, having a separate chamber formed behind each face divided by a series of partitions 13 into a series of vertical channels 14 and 15, which communicate with a common space 16 at the top of the electrode. Each face of the electrode is provided with a series of transverse ribs 17. Beneath each rib is formed a series of openings 18 communicating with the gas channels 14, and above each rib are formed a series of openings 19 communicatin with the electrolyte channels 15. The resu t of this arrangement is that gas formed on the surface of the electrode-beneath the ribs passes through the openings 18. into the channels 14: and passing up these channels raises the electrolyte contained therein, which passes down through the channels 15 and through the openings 19 to the outer face of the electrode where it is subjected to the electrolyzing action.

In order to direct the gas into the'propcr channelsavith greater certainty, and to bring the circulating electrolyte as close down as possible to the lower part of the surface of the electrode over which it is to be distributed, I prefer to give the ribs 17 a zigzag or sinuous form, the gas openings 18 being 10- ]Patented Dec. 9, 191139.

rated at the lower rentrant angles of the zag form and the gas openings are located at ribs and the electrolyte openings 19 in the upper reentrant angles.

Each electrode is inclosed in a sheath of porous non-conductive material or at least having the faces contacting with the electrode of non-conducting material. This sheath is shown more particularly in Fig. 2 and is secured in position by means of bindings or wrappings, and it is preferred to form the grooves 21 around the upper part of eachelectrode to facilitate the securing of the sheath in place, the fastening cords compressing the flexible sheath into these grooves.

In order to reduce the inactive parts of the faces of the electrodes to a minimum, 1 give each of the. transverse ribs a wedgeshaped form in cross, section. The lower edge of each rib forms an abrupt shoulder and its upper edge dies out in the face of the plate. it is only the lower edges of each rib which thus contact with the sheath so that the electrolyte passing through the openings 19 may contact with substantially all of the surface of the electrode.

Preferably the lower end of each of the channels 14: and 15 are open, and the central, partition 33 between the channels at opposite sides of the plates is extended down somewhat lower than the ribbed faces to facilitate the entrance of the electrolyte into the lower ends of the channels.

Numerous advantages result from the construction described, one of the most important being that the two gases which are the result of the electrolysis of a caustic solution are obtained in a high degree of purity, being generated at opposite faces of each electrode and directed or confined by the sheath enveloping the electrode in the entirely separated channels and spaces at opposite sides of the electrode. Any gas which is not so directed owing to any defects in an individua-l sheath will bubble up through the electrolyte between two sheaths and pass away harmlessly at the top of the tank. Any defect in any electrode or its sheath is thus readily detected so that that particular electrode which is ineflicient may be removed and replaced.

What I claim as my invention is:

l. A bi-polar electrode having a separate chamber formed behind each face, a series of transversely extending ribs formed on each face, and a series of gas openings in each the lover reentrant angles of the ribs.

4. A. bi-polar electrode constructed as set forth in claim 1 in which a second series of openings for the passage of the electrolyte is formed in each face immediately above the ribs.

A bipolar electrode constructed as set forth in claim 1 in which each rib is of zigzag form and the gas openings are located at the lower rentrant angles of the zig-zag ribs and a second series of holes for the passage of the electrolyte is provided above the ribs in the upper reentrant angles.

6. A bi-polar electrode having a separate chamber formed behind each face, a series of transversely extending ribs formed on each face, a series of gas openings in each face immediately below the ribs communieating with the respective chambers; a series of electrolyte openings in each face immediately above each rib communicating with.

the respective chambers, and a sheath of porous non-conductive material fitted over the electrode embracing the opposite faces.

7. A metal electrode constructed as set forth in claim 1 in which each chamber is divided vertically to form a series of channels communicating with a common space at the top of the chamber.

8. A bi-polar electrode constructed as set forth in claim 1 in which the ribs on one side are in staggered relationship to the face in'nnediately below the ribs c0mmunieating with the respective chambers.

2. bi-polar electrode constructed as set "forth in claim 1 in which each rib is Wedgeshaped in cross section its lower edge form ing an abrupt shoulder and its upper edge out the face of the. plate.

iii-polar electrode constructed set in claim l in which each rib is of zigribs on the other side.

9. A bi-polar electrode having a separate chamber formed behind each face, a series of transverse ribs formed on each face, a series of gas openings in each face diately below the ribs communicating with the respective chambers; 21- series of electrolyte openings in each face immediately above each rib communicating with the respective chambers, vertical partitions dividing each chamber into vertical channels communicating with a common space at the top of the chamber, the gas openings and electrolyte openings communicating with alternate channels.

10. A bi-polar electrode having circulating channels formed therein and electrolyte openings and gas openings communicating with alternate channels, and provided with means on its face adapted to direct a gas formed at its face into the gas channels.

11. [i bi-polar electrode constructed as set forth in claim 9 in which each rib is wedge shaped in cross section its lower edge forming an abrupt shoulder and its upper edge dying out in the face of the plate and in which each rib is Zig-zagged longitudinally, the gas openings being located at the'lower re'tintrant angles of the ribs, and the electrolyte openings in the upper reeniaiant angles.

19. it lei-polar electrode constructed forth in claim 9 in which each rib is wedgeshaped in cross section its lower edge forming an abrupt shoulder and its upper edge dying out in the face of the plate and in which each rib is zig-zagged longitudinally, the gas openings being located at the lower reentrant angles of the ribs, and the electrolyte openings in the upper rentrant angles, and in which the ribs on one side are in staggered relationship to the ribs on the other side.

13. A bi-polar electrode having a separate chamber formed behind each face at its upper side; and a sheath of porous nonconductive material fitted over the electrode and embracing the opposite faces, the said faces having projections thereon against which the sheath lies, whereby gas and electrolyte spaces are formed by the electrode and the sheath communicating with the chambers aforesaid.

14. A plurality of bi-polar electrodes each having a separate chamber formed behind each face at its upper side; and a sheath of porous non-conductive material fitted over the electrode and embracing the opposite faces; the said .faces having projections thereon against which the sheath lies, where'- by gas and electrolyte spaces are formed by the electrode and the sheath communicating with the chambers aforesaid, the electrodes being positioned so that the opposed sides of the adjacent sheaths are slightly separated.

Signed at Toronto, Canada, this 26th day of March, 1919.

ARCHIBALD J. MACDOUGALL. 

